Toy ornithopter



April 18, 1950 MORGAN 2,504,567

TOY ORNITHOPTER Filed May 20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

HAROLD B MORGAN ATTORNEYS- P 8, 1950 H. B. MORGAN 2,504,567

T'OY ORNITHOPTER Filed May 20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

* HARQLD B. MQRGAN ATTCI RN EYB April 18, 1950 Filed May 20, 1947 H. B. MORGAN TOY ORNITHOPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

HAROLD B. MORGAN Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY ORNITHOPTER Harold B. Morgan, Evansville, Ind.

Application May 20, 1947, Serial No. 749,121

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a toy bird, and more particularly to such a bird of the flying or flapping wing type.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved toy bird characterized by movements of the wings simulating a bird in flight, which will afford pleasure in the flying thereof, for both young and old fliers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a wing propelled type of toy which is characterized by extreme stability in flight, and maximum duration thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a toy which may be automatically released for flight when released from the hand.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will automatically fly or glide, as desired, for a material distance.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is solely powered by rubber or a similar resilient material, the power being stored in the material by means of a string wound on a drum in the body of the device.

An additional specific object of the invention is the provision of such a device provided with wing flaps for slots which, from the downstroke thereof, will serve to uplift the device, and upon the upstroke, will serve to permit passage of air through the wings thereof, and the correspondingly resultant flight of the device.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section and partially broken away, with the wings of the device removed, showing one embodiment of this inventive concept;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view of the device, showing the motive power thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a constructional detail;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a further constructional detail comprising the crank shaft of the device;

2 thereof being broken away to more clearly show the construction thereof;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 6-6 of Figure 5, taken in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure I is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines l-"l of Figure 5 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but showing the parts in different positions of adjustment;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of an air foil of the device, an alternative position of adjustment being indicated by the dotted lines; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing one of the hinge sections of the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a device of the instant invention is comprised of a body portion generally indicated at 20, in simulation of a bird or the like, of hollow construction, and preferably constructed of a light material such as balsam wood.

The body portion is provided with wings generally indicated at 2|, see Figure 5, and to be more fully described hereinafter, a vertical stabilizer fin 22, and a horizontal stabilizer 23.

The body portion 20 is provided with means for reciprocating'or flapping the wings 2|, which means will now be described. in detail. Extending transversely across the body at a point adjacent the base thereof, are a pair of supporting members 25, each of which extends entirely across the body, through suitable apertures therein, the ends being secured in position as by means of pins 26. The supports serve as journals for a crank shaft 2'! (see Figure 4), the depressed portions 28 of which are passed through the support, suitable apertures being provided for the purpose. The upstanding end portions 29 of the crank shaft pass through suitable apertures in discs 30, to mount the discs outwardly of the 33 are passed about eachpin 32, as best shown in Figure 2 and the opposite ends of each band 33 are passed through suitable apertures in the securing blocks 34, the blocks being spaced well toward the front and rear of the body portion,

Figure 5 is a topplan view of the device, parts as and the ends of the bands being secured as at 35 to retain the bands in position, as seen in Figure 2.

The crank shaft 21 has mounted thereon a drum 40, provided with annular peripheral flanges 4i to which is secured one end of a string or cord 42, the string being adapted to be wound about the drum, and the opposite end passing outwardly through a suitable aperture and a balsam block 43 through the base of the body 26 to which the block l3 is-flxed. Avertically reciprocating arm or member 44 is" also mounted-on the crank shaft 21, on the oif center portion thereof, in such manner that rotation of the shaft will cause vertical reciprocatic-npf the member 44. The upper extremity ofmember 44 extends outwardly through a suitable'aperture 45 at the top of the body. I, I 7

It will now be readily apparent that upon pulling of the string A2, the crank shaft is'r'otated in such manner as to' twist the rubber bands 33 and tension the same,xand that-conversely upon release of the now fully extended string the tensioned bands will rotate the'crank shaft and correspondingly reciprocate the vertical member 44, for the purpose'of motivating the wings of the device in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

Pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of the member 44 as by pivots 53 are a of oppositely diverging link members 51, each of which is pivotally secured as by means of a pivot 52' to the bifurcatedi'nner end 53 of a main wing support suitable apertures 55 being provided on opposite sides of the upper body portion for this purpose.

Each'wing- 2-1 is comprised" of two transversely extending frame members 80 and iii, each provided with journalssil" and Bl','and each of air foil section, the main wing support as being journalled in the journals, and the leading edges of the members 68 and .61' being connected by a leading edge member 52, while the trailing edges of the members 68 and 51 are connected by a trailing edge member 63 ;the arrangement being such that the wing is thus free to pivot about the main support 54. The journals 6!) and 6! permitting such' pivotal movement, are best disclosed in Figure wherein the main support 5 is provided with a pair of blocks 65, to the top surfaces of which is secured a pin 66, passed through a suitable aperture in one of the mem bers 60 or 6|. Cords 61' lead from the leading edge member 62 and cords'88 lead'from the trailing edge member 63 of the wing, to suitable points on the body 20, and by suitable adjustment of the'cords 6] and 68 in any desired con ventional' manner, the relative angle of each wing section with respect to the body may be varied, such variation beingindicated at Figure 9. It will thus be seen that each wing 2! is com prised'of a relatively hollow frame work, adapted to be covered by a paper covering til, on the upper portion onlythereof, the paper being relatively stiff, and apertured as indicated in dotted lines at l! in Figure 5- to form flaps for hinges. Transverse strips of reinforcing paper 72 extend over the flaps I l. The arrangement is such that on the down stroke of the wing, the parts will assume the position shown in Figure '7, a relatively smooth air foil section being provided, and the flaps being precludedfrom movement out of the plane of the wing by means of the strips 12. On the up stroke, however, the air pressure against the flaps will causethe parts to assume the position disclosed in Figure 8, permitting relatively free passage of air through the wing structure during the up stroke of the wings, thus serving effectively to lift the bird, as well as to drive the same forward. 5 The Wings may be of any desired general configuration, but in the illustrative embodiment shown, the inner sections are provided, beyond the leading edge member 62, with back swept portions 75 which are likewise covered with the paper covering 10, provided with flap members 16 andreinforc'ing strips'll, the arrangement and operation being substantially similar to that of the wing 2| and its respective flap H previously described. From the foregoing, the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. When it is desired to fly the bird, the wings are first adjusted to a desired flying angle, it being pointed out that various angles will cause different flight characteristics in an obvious manher, and the bird grasped by the'body inone hand. A pull on the string-42 will now cause rotation of the drum and consequent tensioning of the rubber drive bands -33. Simultaneous release of the bird' and the string will permit the drive bands 33 to rotate the crank shaft 21, and through reciprocation of the vertical member 44, cause the wings effectually to flap, forward motion being imparted bythe-flapping action and freedom of passage of air-on the up or return stroke being permitted-by the flaps 7i and 76. Obviously, if desired the device may also, by suitable setting of the wing'sfbe used as a glider toy.

From. the foregoing, it-Will now be'seen'that there is herein' provided an. improved flying or flapping wing type of toy'bird, which accom-' plishes all' the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of practical utility and high entertainment value.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as various modifications may be made to the embodiment herein shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as 11- lustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim: 1. In a flying toy, the combination which comprises a substantially hollow bird-1ike body, a crank shaft journaled in said body, rubber bands connected to the ends of the crank shaft and to opposite ends of the body, a vertically disposed reciprocating arm rotatably mounted on an offset section of the crank shaft and slidaoly mounted 5 in said body, a drum mounted on said crank shaft, a cord attached to said drum for winding the rubber bands when drawn outwardly from the body, wings pivotally mounted on the body and extended from opposite sides thereof, and 00 links connecting the wings to said reciprocating arm for imparting a flapping action to the wings.

2. In a flying toy, the combination which comprises a substantially hollow bird-like body, a

crank shaft ,iournale'd in'saidv body, rubber bands connected to the ends of the crank shaft and to opposite ends of the'body, a vertically disposed reciprocating arm rotatably mounted on an offset section of the crank shaft and slidably mounted in said body, a drum mounted on said crank shaft, a cord attached to said drum for winding the rubber bands when: drawn outwardly from the body, wing supportspivotally mounted on the body and extended from opposite sides thereof, means connecting the wing supports to the said reciprocating arm for imparting upward and downward movement to said wing supports,

and wings carried by said wing supports.

3. In a flying toy, the combination which comprises a substantially hollow bird-like body, a' crank shaft journaled in said body, rubber bands connected to the ends of the cram}: shaft and to opposite ends of the body, a yejrticaily disposed reciprocating arm rotatablyjiounted on an offset section of the crank shaft and slidably mounted in said body, a drum mounted on said crank shaft, a cord attached to said drum for winding the rubber hands when drawn outwardly from the body, wing supports pivota ily mounted on the body and extended from opposite sides thereof, means connecting the wing"? supports to 15 1,533,562

the said reciprocating arm foriinparting upward and downward movement to said wing supports,

wings carried by said wing supports, and stabilizers extended from thewrear of the body providing a tail.

HAROLD B. MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 411,779 Borgfeldt Oct. 1, 1839 964,803 Olson July 19, 19 19 1,031,623 Colombier July 2, 1912 Koshalka May 19, 1925 1,779,349 Whatley Oct. 21, 1930 

